All About Pocket Knives

Hey Guys, thanks to you guys , I jumped off and done it again Took a chance and bought a GEC off the Bay instead of one of our members store and it came in today. To me it looks good. It's the 2006 73 Sheffield Tobbacco. The only thing I can see is the bolsters are crimped into the jigging underneath them. Did we decide this was a good thing, or a bad thing? Thanks, Kelley

Hi Gunsmoke. That looks like a good one.

I can't speak for everyone, but for my own self, I don't mind the "dimpling" of the bolsters to match the jigging at all. I actually think it makes it look better. And more unique. Now if you ever want to rehandle a knife you might thing differently.

Gunsmoke47 wrote:Hey Guys, thanks to you guys , I jumped off and done it again Took a chance and bought a GEC off the Bay instead of one of our members store and it came in today. To me it looks good. It's the 2006 73 Sheffield Tobbacco. The only thing I can see is the bolsters are crimped into the jigging underneath them. Did we decide this was a good thing, or a bad thing? Thanks, Kelley

Good! Excellent in fact. The dimples are caused by the buffer following the jigging up into the bolster during the buffing. It was a lesson for me and came from a knowledeable source. In fact he would not buy an older knife that did not have these marks (course, I can't remember the name).

Does anyone have a full count and amount for 2006 GEC KNIVES? I have 17 different small and large knives. I have seen Perry's list (knifekid) and I think he had 14, I don't thnk the Bark Moss 23 and 73 were there and I'm not sure if he had the Primative bone for 2006 listed.

Gunsmoke wrote:

Did we decide this was a good thing, or a bad thing?

I think that would all depend on personal preference....I have a Amber bone horse cut GEC that has these "sucking out" marks...I honestly look at it as a flaw.IMO!!...I would much rather have a knife without these marks.

johnnierotten I agree with you on this...

I think they are there to show use the different between production and not craftsmen-ship knives.

If any one would not buy a knife with out them, he would not be buying many custom made knives. IMO...

Sorry I am not trying to hurt your felling about your very nice looking knife. To me it looks well made but just missted one step in makeing the scales. Even some S & M's have those marks...

When your bone is jigged all the way to the bolster what are your options? Leave the shelf on the NS bolster to collect dirt and be rough to the feel...

Most makers take the bone down to the bolsters such that there is no jigging on the ends; I sure don't consider that an improvement to have full-length jigging. Maybe just personal preferences in play here.

Can someone that likes the bolster left alone when they have jigging the full length of the knife please post a picture as an example with close-ups of the bolster??

knifeswapper wrote:

Can someone that likes the bolster left alone when they have jigging the full length of the knife please post a picture as an example with close-ups of the bolster??

I have several knives that has these marks but none as profound as the ones on my GEC...Some of the other knives I own with these marks,there so faint you need a magnifying glass to see them.IMO.those are acceptable...I think the person operating the buffer should know when to back off..I want GEC to succeed as much as the next person. I think there doing a good job but theres room for improvement,as with all new companies..IMO.

PS:heres some pics of bolsters without these marks,as requested.

If You are waiting on GEC knives to come out, without the haft jigging marks on the bolsters. You will have a long wait. I have been into knives for over 50 years & have and do own many mint knives from the 1900's to 1940's. This is the quality of knives we are producing. We are not interested in the quality of knives from the 60's to the present. We are selling every thing we can produce at this time, with high prasies from all over the world.

oldknifeman wrote:


"We are selling every thing we can produce at this time, with high prasies from all over the world. "

does this mean you are connected to gec?

You will have a long wait.

I didn't have to wait at all!! ..I've already seen them WITH and WITHOUT them!!

oldknifeman wrote:If You are waiting on GEC knives to come out, without the haft jigging marks on the bolsters. You will have a long wait. I have been into knives for over 50 years & have and do own many mint knives from the 1900's to 1940's. This is the quality of knives we are producing. We are not interested in the quality of knives from the 60's to the present. We are selling every thing we can produce at this time, with high prasies from all over the world.

I agree with ya oldknifeman. In fact I have 45 of these wonderful GEC knives after giving a few to my son. I have an entire set of 2006 knives for his 2008 graduation present and a set for myself as well.

I do love that Beavertail they put out as well, great looking knives. I put up a few of these against some Queens (new Mountain Man), IMO, GEC wins hands down. Queens had a bit of blade play, walk and talk not as good, I just felt the 1095 steel Mountain Man was not as good as GEC. I just ordered some of each and will evaluate again. I do understand that many will disagree with me. That's OK, we are here to discuss knivess.

Bill Howard adressed many cutomer complaints when GEC was formed. Complaints such as blade play that Queen ignored.

GREEN BONE TESTED MINT
Sorry I am no better with the pictures

Got 5 GEC's today. Are these pins acceptable. All 5 knives look the same.

no, not acceptible sqg1.

nice knife oldknifeman. are you affilliated with gec?

Sqg1 wrote:

Are these pins acceptable

Not to me!!

I just became a GEC dealer, and am trying real hard not to get discourged, but of the last 11 knives I got , 7 have some kind of a problem.

No, it looks as if the heads may have spun off on a couple. it may have a pin crack in the scale near the bolster. I have handled nearly 50 knives and only my first 2 had problems where the blades were replaced. Even though I have only seen an occasional problem these knives are the best on the market based on my experience.

Sorry to hear that you obviosley can't say the same. Hate to see that on any knife, I got a sick feeling when I saw my first 2. I know you must feel the same.

GEC does not want you to accept sub-par products which will be passed on to the collecting community. The best way to insure that top notch products come out of their place is to send them back until you are happy with them. Eventually the owners will convince the finishers and QC folks that it is better to do it right the first time than take every knife back for correction. It costs them way more time and shipping expense to have to resolve issues after they leave the factory.

Now I don't mean nit-picking every tiny issue that exist with any maker; I mean true issues that should not have left the factory. I recommend "checking in" every knife as it arrives. That way you let them repair any issue that exists before you take ownership; and you will know what occurs once you have them in your possesion.

They are still a new company striving to match standards from 80 years ago; it takes a while to massage that into the minds of those you have working for you. But our conversations, recommendations, and constructive criticisms will help in the process I assure you. I am just excited to see an American cutlery company make a go of it. They realize you don't have to get rich in order to have pride in your products.

Do the math. On the 2006 marked products they had two patterns and 3 brands = 6 issues of 250 knives each = 1500. If 100% of the going price was profit (no materials cost); that would be 1500 x 75 (just for arguments sake) = $112,500. How many people are having to be paid on that figure for the first half of 2007? How much windfall profit do you think that is leaving for the owners?

I personally look at them as if my nephew was making knives. Support them, offer advice if necessary, provide all the assistance that I can, and offer a continuous stream of constructive advice / criticism until they are a blazing success. Then be proud for them throughout that success.

Nice response knifeswapper, good points.

Nicely said. I hope GEC is around for a very long time
...CCBill...

CCBill wrote:Nicely said. I hope GEC is around for a very long time
...CCBill...

I agree, I hope to see them around for a long time also. They do need the feedback in order to improve. Hopefully they keep stats on who finishes what knife by serial number for a statistical control system.
I consider myself picky about knives, especially the ones I make. BUT, being in a hurry or being behind is not an acceptable excuse for sending out defective merchandise. For the life of me, I can't figure out why I have such a high rate of acceptable knives, only 2 of about 50 were sent back. There has been a proud pin or 2 that I took care of, but overall, I'd say I have some really great knives.

Feedback needs to be offered in a professional manner whether it is good or bad. Slamming them for a defect will not work well and adds nothing constucive.

knifeswapper said it perfectly, look at them as you would a nephew and give constructive feedback in that manner. They need us to help them grow and it takes a lot of guts to start an American knife company these days but I believe they have picked the right niche. I also have faith that they will succeed! Currently they are my favorite company and I fully support what they are doing.

PS: Feeling good today, I realize I was out of it on Friday, following my shoulder surgery on Thursday, my head feels much more clear.

Sqg1 wrote:I just became a GEC dealer, and am trying real hard not to get discourged, but of the last 11 knives I got , 7 have some kind of a problem.

I bought a primitive bone GEC and was very pleased with it. I wiped the blades down with some honing oil and the Northfield stamp on the blade wiped right off I'm leary about buying another

I agree Hukk, knifeswapper, The first two knives I got that had an issue I just put back in my collection because I'm too passive and don't like to complain. If everyone does that, they would never get it right. I understand growing pains of a new company and I knew about all the complaints before I bought any, but decided to support them anyway. I hope they get it right soon and become a great American knife maker